School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
UIS: Sub-saharan Africa: School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes was 77.40 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
77.40 million
Change on year
up 1.1%
Rank
57th
of 221 groups
All-time high
77.40 million
in 2024
All-time low
16.54 million
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa is 77.40 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 77.40 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.54 million, in 1970.
That places UIS: Sub-saharan Africa 57th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 16.54 million | — |
| 1971 | 17.02 million | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 17.49 million | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 17.98 million | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 18.51 million | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 19.13 million | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 19.73 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 20.17 million | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 20.77 million | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 21.42 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 22.06 million | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 23.01 million | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 23.53 million | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 24.30 million | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 25.52 million | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 26.48 million | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 29.19 million | +10.3% |
| 1987 | 30.09 million | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 30.99 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 31.99 million | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 32.95 million | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 34.36 million | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 35.41 million | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 36.56 million | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 37.71 million | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 39.20 million | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 40.43 million | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 42.04 million | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 39.96 million | -4.9% |
| 1999 | 40.70 million | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 41.91 million | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 43.09 million | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 44.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 45.33 million | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 46.46 million | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 47.59 million | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 48.67 million | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 49.72 million | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 50.92 million | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 52.19 million | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 53.62 million | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 55.06 million | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 56.38 million | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 57.64 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 58.81 million | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 59.75 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 61.52 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 63.42 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 65.35 million | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 67.22 million | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 69.15 million | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 71.98 million | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 74.20 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 76.53 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 77.40 million | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.88 million | 16.54 million | 21.42 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.72 million | 22.06 million | 31.99 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.93 million | 32.95 million | 42.04 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.01 million | 41.91 million | 52.19 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.88 million | 53.62 million | 67.22 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.85 million | 69.15 million | 77.40 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
More education data for UIS: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 9.73 million (2021)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.23 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 25.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 1.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.53 % change on previous year (2021)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 4.24 million (2021)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.52 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa was 77.40 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 77.40 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.54 million in 1970.
- How does UIS: Sub-saharan Africa rank for school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes?
- UIS: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 57th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UIS: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release